The creator of one of the most important guitar schools in our country, known as Nino Ricardo[Name of artist] headlines the third edition of the Madrid Community Guitar Festival, held at the Teatros del Canal from April 21 to 26. This event, now a must-see on the Madrid festival circuit, is further solidified this year with a program featuring some of the leading contemporary artists in the genre.
This edition focuses on the Ricardism As a leading school for the world of guitar, four galas will be held by the artists flamencos Francisco Vinuesa, Manolo Franco, Chicuelo y José Antonio Rodríguez.
This year's program, which they presented this morning at Teatros del Canal. Luis Martin Izquierdo, Deputy Minister of Culture, Tourism and Sport of the Community of Madrid, together with the artistic director of the festival, Antonio BenamargoThis is complemented by a parallel agenda centered around the figure of Nino Ricardowhich includes a round table on the Ricardism as a current and two conferences about his life and work and about his artistic legacy, in addition to the performances of José Acedo & Joselito Acedo, Alejandro Hurtado y Rafael Rodriguez.
In Benamargo's words, “The people of Madrid have an outstanding passion for flamenco guitar. Back in 1990, 36 years ago, I programmed a show at the Centro Cultural de la Villa de Madrid, as part of a series called '6 Flamenco Nights,' featuring four flamenco guitars in concert, with Rafael Riqueni, Pepe Habichuela, Gerardo Núñez and Jerónimo Maya, And it was completely full both nights. Since that year I've tried to organize a Guitar Festival in various public spaces and, finally, the councilor Mariano de Paco He encouraged me to program it, and the public received it as usual, filling the theater.” Regarding this year’s edition, he assures that “we want to surpass ourselves and pay tribute to the creator of one of the most important guitar schools of the flamenco, due to the enormous influence and mastery of Niño Ricardo.”
Unique concerts and galas from Thursday to Sunday
Teatros del Canal will once again host the festival's program in two of its most emblematic venues: the Sala Negra and the Sala Verde. The Sala Verde will be the location for the four galas in 2026, featuring renowned artists and international icons.
El Thursday April 23 At 9:00 p.m. the guitarist from Malaga will perform Francisco Vinuesa, who will have as guests the Sevillian flamenco singer Ismael de la Rosa and to the dancer Alfonso Losa.
Vinuesa He is one of the most respected guitarists and composers on the contemporary flamenco scene, having established himself in recent years as a creator of soundtracks for large-scale productions. He received the Max Audience Award (2020) as part of the team behind the show. LIVE! de Manuel Linan; and the Best Original Composition Award at the Jerez Festival 2024 for the show Alter Ego, Alfonso Losa y Patricia guerrero.
El Friday April 24 At 9:00 p.m. it will be the turn of the Sevillian guitarist Manolo Francowith the flamenco singer Angeles Toledano and the dancer Javier Baron.
Manolo Franco went down in history flamenco in 1984 when he won the first Giraldillo del Toque at the Biennial of Flamenco from Seville before figures of the stature of Paco Cepero, Tomatito y Henry of MelchiorAnd today he is considered one of the pillars of flamenco concert and accompaniment guitar in recent decades. Besides being an admired soloist, he is also one of the most sought-after guitarists by leading figures in the flamenco world. cante , the Antonio Mairena, Calixto Sanchez o Jose Merce.
El Saturday, April 25 At 9:00 p.m. the guitarist will be the main attraction. Chicuelo, this time with the flamenco singer Mayte Martín and the flamenco dancer from Cádiz Juan Thomas de la Molia as guests.
Chicuelo He is one of the most influential and complete guitarists of flamenco current. If Manolo Franco While he represents the Sevillian orthodoxy, the Barcelonan is the foremost exponent of the Catalan school: innovative, open to jazz, and extremely musical. Not many guitarists flamencoThey can boast of having a Goya Award, which Chicuelo She won in 2013 for the song I can't forget you of the movie Snow White; in addition to participating in the soundtrack of Flamencode Carlos SauraHe is also known for being the trusted guitarist of leading figures in the music industry. flamenco modern as Miguel Poveda o Duquende.
This year's Festival's musical program concludes with Sunday April 26 At 6:30 p.m., the guitarist from Cordoba will perform. José A. Rodríguez, which will feature the flamenco singer as a guest Carmen Linares and the dancer Flowers Frame.
José Antonio Rodríguez He is Professor of Flamenco Guitar at the Conservatory of Córdoba, where he has helped establish a solid technical foundation for new generations of guitarists. A precocious guitarist, in 1982, at just 18 years old, he won First Prize at the National Flamenco Guitar Competition in Jerez and at the Festival de las Minas in La Unión; four years later, he won the National Concert Guitar Prize at the National Art Competition Flamenco from Córdoba. Today, he is recognized as one of the most brilliant composers and concert performers of flamenco guitar.
A parallel program to learn about the legacy of Niño Ricardo
The program is complemented by a full parallel program from Tuesday to Thursday, with round table discussions, lectures and guitar concerts focused on the figure of Niño Ricardo.
El Tuesday April 21 At 6:30 p.m., the round table discussion “Niño Ricardo. The Ricardism”, moderated by the journalist and writer Bald Peter, and will feature as panelists Jose Manuel Gamboa, writer, journalist and producer; Norberto Torresalso a journalist; and with the guitarists Humberto Wilkes, disciple of Niño Ricardo, and Alejandro HurtadoNext, the concert that opens this year's festival will take place, featuring guitarists from Seville. José Acedo and Joselito AcedoFather and son, at 7:30 p.m. They are two of the most powerful figures in contemporary flamenco guitar, with a style very much from the Triana neighborhood, but also avant-garde.
The session of Wednesday April 22 It includes the lecture “Life and work of Niño Ricardo”, at 6:30 p.m., given by Norberto TorresAt 7:15 p.m., the concert by the artist from Alicante will take place. Alejandro HurtadoOne of the most dazzling and complete talents in contemporary guitar, he commands both flamenco and classical guitar with equal mastery. In 2017, he won the Bordón Minero, the highest award for flamenco concert guitar at the International Festival of Cante from the Mines of La Unión (Murcia).
And the Thursday April 23Also at 6:30 p.m., José Manuel Gamboa will give a presentation entitled “The Artistic Legacy of Niño Ricardo.” At 7:15 p.m., the Sevillian guitarist will perform a concert. Rafael Rodriguez, known in the art world as “El Cabeza”, and the preferred guitarist of purists and flamenco dancers seeking the pellizco Authentic from Seville. At the Biennial of Flamenco The 2020 Seville Festival received the prestigious Giraldillo de Acompañamiento award, confirming him as a master of masters. player.
The important influence of Niño Ricardo continues to this day.
Nino Ricardo It is the stage name of the Sevillian maestro Manuel SerrapíBorn in 1904, at the dawn of the 20th century, in Seville, where he also passed away in 1972, he was a precocious artist who began his artistic career at the age of 13 alongside his father, Ricardo Manuel Serrapí, in venues and halls in his hometown.
After performing in such emblematic venues as the Ideal Concert, the Miramar Cinema, and the Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville, he debuted in Madrid at the Teatro Pavón and embarked on several tours throughout Spain accompanying The Girl with the CombsAlongside her and Thomas Pavon He made his first recording in 1927, the beginning of an extensive discography. The Civil War caught him in Jaén, and he would not return to the stage until 1939 with The Girl with the Combs y The SevillianFirst, and then, with Pepe Pinto y Conchita Piquer.
In 1945, after throat surgery and the tribute paid to him by his colleagues in Madrid, he joined the company of Juanito Valderrana, with whom he traveled the world until 1955. That year he gave his first solo performance at the Teatro San Fernando in Seville, in a tribute to Fernanda romero.
After joining the cast of Manolo CaracolFrom 1961 to 1968 it belonged to the company of Antonio Molina, on a world tour that would take him to Venezuela, Belgium or France, and, upon his return to Spain, he received the Ramón Montoya trophy from the National Syndicate of Entertainment.
In his career, Nino Ricardo He accompanied flamenco singers in the recording of albums, some as important as Enrique Morente, Pepe Marchena, from Lebrija o Antonio MolinaHis touch created the Ricardism, one of the most important guitar schools in history, from which many artists flamencoThey recognize his mastery.
Nino Ricardo He is the figure to whom this year's III Flamenco Guitar Festival of the Community of Madrid is dedicated, and he takes over from the Madrid master. Ramon Montoya, in 2024, and from the Navarrese master You knowIn 2025.
More info at: www.madrid.org/sumaflamenca/2026/guitarra/
